Engraver s block or work-holder



` No. 624,|79. Patented may 2, |899.

H. c. CLARK..

ENGBAVERS BLOCK 0B WURK HOLDER.

(Application tiled Oct. 10, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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I,UNiTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

HENRY C. CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ENGRAVERS BLOCK OR WORK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,179, dated May 2,1899.

" Application filed october 10, 1898. serai No. 693,114. (No model.) Y

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. CLARK,a citizen of the United States,residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and 'useful Improvement in Engravers Blocks orVtfork-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in engravers7 blocks orwork-holders.

Engravers and chasers upon metal are accustomed to employ a block orholder for clamping and holding the work-such, for eX- ample, as spoonsto mark and various small metal articles of irregular shape. Such blocksare usually made heavy enough to hold the work steady under the thrustof the engraving-tool and have means for clamping the work securely uponthe block.

The present improvement consists in the novel devices and novelcombinations of parts and devices herein shown and described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims, all tending to render theapparatus more convenient and easy to use and adapting it to a greaterrange of work.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout theseveral views, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of myimproved block. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of the holder, showing the bottoml in a reversed position; andFig. 4 is an end view of the pivoted jaw-piece which is shown in sideview at Fig. l.

In the drawings, A represents the basepiece, consisting, preferably, ofaheavy metal block to give stability to the apparatus. This base-piece Ais made hemispherical in form, and the jaw-piece or clamping-head ismade removable from it in such manner that said base-piece may be usedeither with its iiat side resting on the work-bench or its sphericalside underneath. In some classes of work the engraver prefers to havethe apparatus stand in such manner that the piece to be engraved shallbe held always in the same plane, while in other classes of work it isdesirable that there shall be a capability of changing the plane of thepiece to be engraved. Some workmen too prefer for all kinds of work adat-bottomed block, While others prefer a round-bottomed block, thelatter to be used in conjunction with what is known as a ring-cushion-an annular cushion of leather filled with sand-in which theround-bottomed block is set and which enables it to be tipped to andheld at any angle. By constructing the base A in the manner indicatedand according to this invention the apparatus may be readily reversedand used either as a fiat-bottomed or a round-bottomed block. Thus inFig. l the apparatus is shown resting upon the flat portion of the base,while in Fig. 3 it is shown as resting upon the round portion as itwould be used in conjunction with the ring-cushion indicated at a.

B is the stock of theclamping-head, and C C are the two clamping-jawssecured to the upper end of the stock by dovetail slides c. Adouble-threaded screw D,with aright-hand thread at one end and aleft-hand thread at the other end, works in the two clampingjaws C C',so that when said screw is turned in one direction the 'clamping-jawsare separated or drawn apart equally from the center line of theclampinghead, and when said screw is turned in the other direction saidjaws are closed together until they meet at said center line. Forturning the screw a squared end d, to receive a removable key d', isformed on one or both ends of said screw, preferably at both ends. Theobject in using a removable key is in order that it may not interferewith the hands of the engraver in working. The object of having theclampingjaws open and close from and to the center line of the stock isin order that the work may be kept central in the turning andmanipulation of the stock, which is found to be a great aid andconvenience to the workman. A pin E projects from the center'of thebottoni of the stock and enters a hole e in the center of the base A.The hole e may pass entirely through said base from top to bottom. Theconstruction 4is such, as will be understood, that the clamping-head asa whole is free to turn horizontally on the base.

F is a washer-block, 011e surface of which is made ilat to fit the iiatside of the base and the other side concave to t the round side of thebase. This Washer-block serves the purpose of elevatingftheclampinghead', nm'knzggf the head easier to turn on its pivot, and tak-Ying the Wear of the parts. It may, however, be omitted, if desired.

I claim- 1. The engvaversblock on worksholder, comprising in combinationaclamping-head and. aJ reversible base, substantially as speci-- lied.

2. The engravers block or Work holdem comprisingincombination a piVotami-nnount ed clamping-head and' a. reversible base haw ing a, fiatside and a hemisphericali side sub-Y stantially as specified.

3. rBhe engravers block or work-holdem` oomprisingiincombinationclamping-head i and a reversible, base having a flatside-,and 1.

